DeSantis, Rubio, Scott grill Biden on two-year anniversary month of Afghanistan withdrawal
WASHINGTON, D.C. (FLV) – Florida Republican leaders blasted President Joe Biden for his “botched” withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan approximately two years ago.
The withdrawal was fully executed in August 2021 and was announced by the president in April of that year.
“I concluded that it’s time to end America’s longest war. It’s time for American troops to come home,” Biden said at the time.
The withdrawal commenced and was perceived by critics to be “botched,” with a reported 13 U.S. soldiers losing their lives, along with others being put in danger as the Taliban filled the power vacuum in the region.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, running for president in 2024, slammed the president for leaving Americans and Afghan allies “behind.”
“Thirteen brave servicemembers were killed. Intelligence warnings that the Taliban would quickly take over were ignored,” DeSantis said. “Billions of dollars in U.S. military equipment were gifted to the Taliban.”
“Since one of the worst foreign policy failures in U.S. history, our enemies including China, Russia, and Iran have become more emboldened,” he continued. “Afghanistan has once again become a terror safe haven as the Taliban eliminates rights for women under its tyranny. It is a disgrace no one has been held accountable.”
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., slammed Biden’s withdrawal similarly for resulting in 13 deaths.
“We still don’t have any accountability,” Scott said. “The American people will never forget the misguided and dangerous decisions that led to a deadly and chaotic withdrawal, and I won’t stop fighting to establish a bipartisan and bicameral Joint Select Committee on Afghanistan so that accountability can become a reality.”
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said the Biden administration’s plan had put service members and allies “carelessly [in] danger.”
“We continue to unite in solidarity and prayer for the Afghan people, especially the women and children who are now at the mercy of the Taliban,” he added.
A White House report on the withdrawal reiterated that Biden felt it was the “right thing” to end the war in Afghanistan.
“President Biden’s choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor,” it stated. “President Trump ordered direct talks with the Taliban without consulting with our allies and partners or allowing the Afghan government at the negotiating table.”
Former President Donald Trump, seeking the White House in 2024, called Biden’s actions the “greatest embarrassment” for the U.S. on the world stage at the time.
